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A Labrador retriever which ate 100 cotton buds including the plastic packaging, and underwear, is among the most unusual pet insurance claims last year.

Southern Cross Pet Insurance general manager Anthony McPhail said their list of the 10 most unusual pet insurances claims was dominated by dogs and showed how dangerous ordinary household objects could be.

"Weird claims are pretty common for our team because pets can get up to all sorts of mischief," he said. "The fact is, a lot of these strange situations can be very costly and stressful for the animal and the owner.

"Pets give their owners a lot of joy but it's important not to underestimate just how much vet bills can cost. There's no equivalent of a public health system for pets so if you don't have pet insurance it's best to put some money aside in case they get up to no good and hurt themselves."

Although New Zealand had the second highest pet ownership rate in the world, insurance rates here were low compared to other pet-loving nations, he said.

Southern Cross Pet Insurance's most unusual claims of 2017, including the claim cost:

• A Labrador retriever ate 100 cotton buds, including the plastic packaging, and underwear, which the vet removed from its stomach ($1863). The dog was taken to the vet again for surgery to remove a bra strap and clips from its intestine ($1971).

• A Swiss shepherd dug up a dead pet in the garden, which had recently been euthanised, and ate some of it. This caused pentobarbitone toxicity because of the euthanasia drug. The vet induced vomiting ($700).

• A Retradoodle ate a disposable razor blade head from the rubbish bin and needed surgery to remove the pieces of blade. After destroying its Elizabethan collar, the dog needed a muzzle and calming medication so the wound could heal ($2615).

• A German shepherd ate a duvet cover and stuffing from the liner, causing intestinal blockage ($1824).

• A miniature schnauzer went swimming one morning and was later taken to the vet by its owners to remove a fish hook caught in its skin ($473).

• A fox terrier found and ate a latex kitchen glove after getting into a rubbish bag, and needed surgery ($1431).

• An owner fell on their miniature poodle while chopping down a tree, which caused hip dislocation. Surgery was required to fix hip back into place ($7071).

• A border collie ate the metal teeth off a hairbrush so the vet had to induce vomiting ($395).

• A great Dane chomped into an inhaler which exploded and caused Tachycardia (rapid heart rate) and bruising around its mouth ($1307).